Chain with pins equipped with lubricating cartridges and cartridge for said chain

ABSTRACT

A chain with links made of plates ( 11,12,111,112 ) connected with hollow pins ( 13,113 ) containing a reserve of lubricant connected with the chain parts ( 16,116 ) to be lubricated. The lubricant reserve is contained in replaceable cartridges ( 20,120,220 ) inserted removably in said pins through an appropriate end passage ( 19,119 ). The cartridge can be made with an enlarged section ( 23 ) to constitute a plug of the pin in which it is received.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a transmission and/or conveyancechain with a reserve lubricating fluid cartridge. The present inventionalso relates to a lubricating cartridge for said chain.

[0002] Transmission and/or conveyance chains equipped with hollow pinsfilled with lubricating fluid and with passages for the fluid from theinside of the pin to the parts to be lubricated are known. These chainssuffer from the disadvantage of requiring a periodic long and dirtylubricant replenishment operation. Indeed, for each pin it is necessaryto remove or drill the plug closing the pin, input lubricant to the pinby means of a pressure device and, lastly, reseal the pin.

[0003] The general purpose of the present invention is to remedy theabove mentioned shortcomings by making available a chain with alubricating fluid reserve in which the lubricant replenishmentoperations are fast, simple and clean. Another purpose is to makeavailable a lubricating cartridge for said chain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In view of this purpose it was sought to provide in accordancewith the present invention a chain with links made of plates connectedby hollow pins containing a lubricant reserve and connected with thechain parts to be lubricated and characterized in that the lubricantreserve is contained in replaceable cartridges inserted in said pinsthrough an end passage.

[0005] Again in accordance with the present invention it was sought torealize a cartridge containing a lubricant reserve and designed to beinserted in a removable manner in hollow pins of a chain equipped withlinks made up of plates connected by said hollow pins to constitute alubricant reserve connected with parts of the chain to be lubricated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] To clarify the explanation of the innovative principles of thepresent invention and its advantages compared with the prior art thereare described below with the aid of the annexed drawings possibleembodiments thereof by way of non-limiting examples applying saidprinciples. In the drawings:

[0007]FIG. 1 shows a cross section view of a section of chain inaccordance with the present invention in a pin part,

[0008]FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a lubricant cartridge inaccordance with the present invention,

[0009]FIG. 3 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 1 of a secondembodiment of a chain in accordance with the present invention, and

[0010]FIG. 4 shows a partial diagrammatic view of an embodiment variant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] With reference to the FIGS, FIG. 1 shows a chain sectiondesignated as a whole by reference number 10 in a pin part thereof. Thechain 10 comprises plates 11, 12 connected with hollow pins 13 equippedwith passages 14 advantageously radial for putting in communication thecavities 15 in the pin with parts of the chain to be lubricated. Inparticular, the passages are in communication with a space 16 identifiedin the interface between the outer wall of the pin and a bush 17 fittedon the pin. The interface space 16 is closed and sealed towards theexterior for example by sealing gaskets 18 arranged between plates andbush.

[0012] The pin 13 has at least one open end 19 through which is insertedtherein a replaceable cartridge 20 containing a reserve of suitablelubricating fluid.

[0013] The cartridge has a closed end 21 designed to be arranged nearthe open end of the pin and an opposite open end 22 designed to bereceived inside the pin.

[0014] Advantageously the open end of the cartridge is arranged in thepin near the radial passages in the pin for distribution of thelubricant to the chain parts to be lubricated.

[0015] A section 23 of the cartridge near the closed end has a slightlygreater diameter than the corresponding inside diameter of the pin sothat the cartridge will fit with interference in the pin and constitutea sealing plug thereof also to prevent the cartridge from accidentallycoming out of the pin.

[0016] Advantageously at least a section 24 of the cartridge near theopen end 22 has a diameter smaller than the corresponding insidediameter of the pin to leave an air space 25 between the outer wall ofthe cartridge and the facing internal wall of the pin. This avoids a“piston” effect upon insertion of the cartridge in the pin by allowingair to come out. In addition, if for construction reasons the radialhole in the pin were to be positioned rearward from the open end of thecartridge the air space 25 would allow the lubricant to flow towards theradial hole.

[0017] Advantageously the closed end of the cartridge protrudes from thepin with a head having enlarged diameter 26 forming a stop edge againstinsertion of the cartridge in the pin to avoid excessive sinking of thecartridge into the pin.

[0018] The edge 26 can also be used to allow grasping and removal of thecartridge from the pin even by merely inserting an appropriate toolunder the edge to remove the cartridge by levering against the end ofthe pin.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows a cartridge 20 before insertion thereof in the pin.As may be seen, the cartridge can be advantageously equipped with aclosing plug 27 which is removed from the end 22 before insertion of thecartridge in a pin. The plug can be made of rubber or otherappropriately elastic material to be engaged with pressure on the openend of the cartridge.

[0020] Once the plug 27 is removed, the cartridge can be easily andrapidly inserted in a chain pin. The natural viscosity of thelubricating fluid prevents the mass of lubricant from coming out whenthe unplugged cartridge is tilted horizontally to be inserted in a pin.

[0021] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the pin has one end closed andthe passages 14 are made toward the bottom of the cavity in which thecartridge is housed downstream of the point of outflow of the lubricantfrom the cartridge. The cartridge is thus nearly as long as the entirepin so as to maximize the lubricant content.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment in which the pin has both endsopen and receives two cartridges from the opposite ends. For the sake ofconvenience, in FIG. 3 parts similar to those of FIG. 1 are designatedby the same numbers increased by 100. Thus there is a chain 110comprising plates 111, 112 connected with hollow pins 113 equipped withpassages 114 advantageously radial to provide communication between thecavity 115 in the pin and the space 116 between the pin and the bush 117sealed with sealing gaskets 118.

[0023] As may be seen in FIG. 3, the pin 113 has both ends 119 open andthrough each of them is inserted a replaceable cartridge 120 similar tothe cartridge 20 described above and containing the reserve of suitablelubricating fluid. The open ends of the two cartridges are thus facingeach other. The length of the two cartridges is clearly such as to allowfull insertion thereof into the pin. In particular, it is advantageousthat each cartridge 120 enter into the pin 113 for a length less thanhalf the pin length to have the respective ends of the two open andfacing cartridges spaced from each other. In the central space betweenthe open ends of the cartridges there are the passages 114.

[0024]FIG. 4 shows an alternative shape of the cartridge bottom(designated as a whole by reference number 210) suitable for theembodiments of both FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. As may be seen in FIG. 4, thecartridge 220 is made with dimensions such as to be inserted virtuallyflush with the end of the pin receiving it. The cartridge bottom 32which faces the open end of the pin has a cavity 30 for engagement ofthe cartridge with and extraction thereof from the pin. The cavity canbe for example a mere blind hole in which can be screwed the threadedpoint 31 of an appropriate tool, for example even a small screw, to bepulled for extracting the cartridge from its seat.

[0025]FIG. 4 also shows a variant embodiment of the hydraulic seal ofthe lubricated air space where the gaskets 218 are housed between bushand pin instead of between bush and plates. This variant can of coursebe applied to all the embodiments shown.

[0026] It is now clear that the predetermined purposes have beenachieved by making available chains with a reserve of lubricant whichcan be easily replenished in a quick and clean manner by merely drawingout of the pin a depleted cartridge and inserting in the pin a newcartridge already filled with suitable lubricant. It is also possible tomake different cartridges for different lubricant types and which can beinserted only in the chains (with appropriately made pins) which needthat particular type of lubricant so as to prevent erroneouslubrication.

[0027] Replacement is fast and easy whether for planned maintenanceoperations or operations involving opening of the chain with resultingloss of lubricant which upon closing of the chain again must bereplenished.

[0028] Thanks to the use of prefilled cartridges the quantity oflubricant is known and constant for all pins.

[0029] Naturally the above description of embodiments applying theinnovative principles of the present invention is given by way ofnon-limiting example of said principles within the scope of theexclusive right claimed here. For example known changes to the shape ofthe chain can be readily imagined by those skilled in the art dependingon specific requirements.

What is claimed is:
 1. Chain with links made of plates connected byhollow pins containing a reserve of lubricant connected with the chainparts to be lubricated characterized in that the lubricant reserve iscontained in replaceable cartridges inserted in said pins through an endpassage.
 2. Chain in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that aclosed end designed to be arranged near an open end of the pin and anopposite open end designed to be received inside the pin.
 3. Chain inaccordance with claim 2 characterized in that the closed end has aslightly larger diameter than the corresponding inside diameter of thepin to be fitted with interference therein and constitute a sealing plugthereof.
 4. Chain in accordance with claim 3 characterized in that atleast one section of the cartridge near the open end has a diametersmaller than the corresponding inside diameter of the pin to leave anairspace between the outer wall of the cartridge and the facing innerwall of the pin.
 5. Chain in accordance with claim 2 characterized inthat the open end of the cartridge is arranged in the pin near a radialpassage in said pin for distribution of lubricant to said chain parts tobe lubricated.
 6. Chain in accordance with claim 2 characterized in thatthe closed end of the cartridge protrudes from the pin with head havingan enlarged diameter to constitute a stop against insertion of thecartridge in the pin.
 7. Chain in accordance with claim 6 characterizedin that the head with enlarged diameter constitutes a part for graspingof the cartridge to extract it from the pin.
 8. Chain in accordance withclaim 2 characterized in that the closed end faces the open end of thepin with a bottom having a cavity for engagement of the cartridge andits extraction from the pin.
 9. Chain in accordance with claim 1characterized in that each pin receives two cartridges inserted fromopposite open ends of the pin to have respective open ends facing oneanother.
 10. Chain in accordance with claim 9 characterized in that eachcartridge enters in the pin by a length less than half the length of thepin to have the respective ends open and facing each other with therebeing in the pin in the space between the ends passages for distributionof the lubricant to said parts of the chain to be lubricated.
 11. Chainin accordance with claim 1 characterized in that each pin receives acartridge from one end and has its opposite end closed.
 12. Chain inaccordance with claim 1 characterized in that each pin has on it arespective bush with there being identified between pin and respectivebush an interface space closed and sealed toward the exterior by meansof sealing gaskets with said space being connected with the internalspace of the pin to constitute said chain parts to be lubricated. 13.Chain in accordance with claim 12 characterized in that the sealinggaskets are arranged between plates and bushes.
 14. Chain in accordancewith claim 12 characterized in that the sealing gaskets are arrangedbetween bushes and pins.
 15. Cartridge containing a lubricant reserveand designed to be removably inserted in hollow pins of a chain withlinks made up of plates connected by said hollow pins to constitute alubricant reserve connected with chain parts to be lubricated. 16.Cartridge in accordance with claim 15 characterized in that it has aclosed end designed to be arranged near an open end of the pin receivingit and an open end opposite designed to be received within the pin withthe open end being plugged with a removable plug before insertion in apin.
 17. Cartridge in accordance with claim 16 characterized in that ithas a section near its own closed end made with a greater diameter toconstitute a plug of a pin in which it is inserted.
 18. Cartridge inaccordance with claim 16 characterized in that the closed end has a headwith enlarged diameter to constitute a stop against insertion of thecartridge in a pin.
 19. Cartridge in accordance with claim 18characterized in that the head with enlarged diameter constitutes a partfor grasping of the cartridge for its extraction from the pin. 20.Cartridge in accordance with claim 16 characterized in that the closedend has an external bottom equipped with a cavity designed forengagement of the cartridge and extraction of the cartridge from a pin.